As always, whenever I have a controversial topic like which female driven TV shows truly kick the most ass, I must start with a disclaimer. I'm a recovering attorney so please excuse me.
Here it goes...
This list is comprised of my personal (that means my own opinion) picks for the top 5 kick ass-iest (if you're wondering, I coined the term) female driven television shows currently on air. Kick ass being defined as extremely good or impressive with or without actual ass kicking occurring within the plot lines.
This list of 5 is presented in no particular order. I love them all and feel that you can't really choose between them due to their creative differences.
Seriously, how can you compare the story of a CIA operative to a comic book superhero? I rest my case.
You're free to disagree with my choices and have a different opinion from my own. We live in a free country and I believe in open, respectful discourse. If anything, I'd love to hear about your own top 5 kick ass female driven TV shows list in the comments below.
Okay, now that's over with, on to the good stuff.
#1 Homeland
With its 6 season premiering in September 2016 on Showtime, the award-winning Homeland is about Carrie Mathison, a former CIA operative with bipolar disorder, and how she maneuvers through the dark and dangerous underworld of Islamic terrorist groups.
Her story, played to perfection by actress, Claire Danes, winner of back-to-back Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for this role, is complex, thought-provoking and involves actually ass-kicking from time to time, which is fun and exciting to watch.
Throughout the seasons, we have learned a lot about Carrie - like her affinity for men that are gingers and how her romances usually end with the guy dying some horrible death.
But what I love most about Carrie and her story is that she's written as a woman - although she was a CIA operative.
If you're confused, let me explain what I mean by that.
Often times, female characters that are in traditionally male occupations tend to be written exactly like a man but with the only difference being a gender change.
I don't know if it's because many male writers truly don't know how to write women or if writers feel they are being sexist if they make a character feminine in any way even though they're in a masculine profession. I don't know what the deal is but if the latter is the case, I appreciate the sensitivity, although it does come at the expense of my relating to the character.
But in Homeland, they seem to strike the right balance, where I can actually relate to her as a woman, allowing me to join her on this dangerous journey as a (former) CIA operative.
I love that they've incorporated issues that only women deal with as well - like pregnancy or trying to deal with postpartum depression or childcare concerns when you're a single mom with a demanding career.
I also love how Carrie is smart and always tries her best at her job. Even when all the odds seem against her, she never gives up - making this TV show truly kick ass.
#2 Girls
Girls is the story of four young women in their early twenties trying to find their own way in life, love and career in New York City.
Although I was a big fan of Sex in the City, I find that Lena Dunham, the creator, writer, and the actress that plays the role of Hannah in Girls, tells a more relatable story about the female experience in dating and career pursuits.
After all, how many women do you know that can afford an awesome apartment in Manhattan, spend over $40k on shoes, and get to choose between a world famous artist in Paris or a multi-millionaire - all while wearing thousands of dollars in designer duds on a daily basis?
Ah, to dream the dream...
But there's something about Girls' gritty reality that despite being less 'fairy tale ending' than most things written for and about women, it's more personable and frankly, more interesting because of it.
What I also think is absolutely kick ass about this show is how Lena Dunham doesn't allow Hollywood's sexist size zero requirement for women stop her from baring all - a lot.
Unfortunately, in today's day and age, it takes an act of bravery for a woman with even an ounce of fat on her to just embrace her body. By Lena embracing her body on screen, she tells other girls that you don't have to look one certain way to be a beautiful sexual being and in the end, the haters can kiss off anyway.
I can't think of a message that's more needed or kicks ass more than that...
#3 Supergirl
This is the story of Kara Danvers aka Kara Zor-El, Superman's cousin, from DC Comics and how she blossoms into her own superhero saving lives in fictional National City.
I never read comic books as a kid but I do love a good superhero story. I was particularly interested in watching this superhero TV show because I wanted something I could watch with my son that would give him a gender-neutral portrayal of leadership and heroism.
And Supergirl fits the bill perfectly.
It's family friendly (unless you have real little ones) and we both love watching Kara, alongside her adoptive sister, Alex, save the world against the most horrible aliens and humans alike.
I love how Kara's story shows my son that being a hero has to do with your actions, not your gender.
The message has come across so well that when we recently started to watch The Flash together on Netflix (inspired by his special appearance on Supergirl), my son declared he preferred the TV show Supergirl and Alex, with her kick ass martial arts moves, is still his favorite character.
Unfortunately, there's been some drama over at CBS about the $3 million per episode budget and there are talks of sending it over to the CW. Hopefully, there will be a second season for you to watch because this female driven TV show truly kicks ass.
#4 Nashville
This is a story revolving within the competitive world of country music, particularly two country music singers - Rayna James and Juliette Barnes.
It's true. Nashville has a soapy element to it but the characters, story lines and music are simply great, to say the least.
If you follow Rosanna's Take, you already know that I love the character of Rayna James. I particularly love that no matter what life throws at her, she doesn't get self-destructive, sneaky or manipulative. Although things don't always work out well, she sticks to her values and stays the strong, smart-minded businesswoman she truly is - an overall positive portrayal for young women.
But I also love that Juliette Barnes is paying some serious consequences for her exact opposite behavior. It shows that all that soapy, dramatic behavior doesn't lead to a happy ending, which is equally important for young women to see.
#5 Orange is the New Black
Based on a true story, Piper Chapman is a white, upper middle class woman in her early thirties having to go to prison for 15 months after being convicted for a decade-old crime of transporting money for a drug-dealer girlfriend.
I love this TV show because it shows women of all races, shapes and sexualities. It's unfortunate it took a prison show to give us this brilliant ensemble cast of amazing women that aren't all eighteen years old or a size zero. I guess with a story this female-driven and unique, we should just be thankful Netflix green-lighted it.
But what kicks ass the most is the message that Orange is the New Black gives while you watch prim and proper Piper revert into a criminal by virtue of our dysfunctional, for-profit justice system.
Maybe it's the recovering attorney within me again rearing its head, but I'm fascinated by the questions raised on this TV show.
Why do we send people to prison - to punish or rehabilitate?
Does our prison system reform or create criminals?
Is privatizing prisons creating an incentive to find ways to keep more people behind bars?
I love a good drama that has great characters but also makes you think about things that matter in our lives and world, which is why Orange is the New Black is one of my 5 kick ass female driven TV shows you should watch.